Submitted by Yardbroom
A report in Barbados Today, the online newspaper – 8 December 2010 – reported: “The Ministry of Agriculture is seeking to ensure that food crop farmers glean greater appreciation of agriculture as a “business”, especially given the changing trends within the sector. Record keeping for profitability is the theme of a seminar stated to be held at the Barbados Worker’s Labour College, Mangrove, St. Philip.”
This initiative is a noble one and The Ministry should be applauded, not because last week I alluded to initiatives of that kind in my submission; “The Untapped Potential Of Boys On The Block In Barbados” here on Barbados Underground. When I then wrote: “We need to have a long term plan, with clearly identified achievable objectives. Within that plan, among other initiatives, we could take a serious look at farming, agriculture, horticulture etc, underscored by academic qualifications from reputable learning establishments. Some element of financial support, for those who are ultimately qualified, would be necessary as an incentive, but this would be an investment in people, to get them started in business enterprises”.
Agriculture has an important role to play in the Barbados’ economy at many levels, if it is not relegated to Cinderella status. However, there will not be much profit, if scarce resources, effort and hopes for the future are employed, only to be spirited way by thieves. We must seriously address this problem of praedial larceny, which now stymie expectations and deny many industrious hands, the lawful fruits of their labours.
Farmers have enough problems, with the elements and nature’s pests, without the added burden of theft, by those whose sole destructive occupation, is thieving crops. Farmers are being assaulted, taken advantage of and in one recent incident, there was a fatality. . . when will it all end? To whom should the blame be directed, of course the culprits, but also at fault are the Police and the Judiciary. Evidence is required for convictions, but the crimes are not being investigated with the rigour and thoroughness one expects, judging by the comments from farmers. Even those thieves who are convicted, escape with derisory penalties, which to the criminal mind, sows the idea the risk is worth the sanction imposed.
With this activity now becoming firmly entrenched in a certain section of Barbadian society, it is the duty – and I use the word duty with some deliberation – of Magistrates to indicate through punishment, that this behaviour cannot, and will not be tolerated in Barbados.
We have reached a point when “Exemplary Sentencing” is required. When law abiding citizens, are fearful of harvesting crops on their own lands, and the Law seems powerless to act, no incentives however carefully orchestrated, will give the returns expected.
How can exemplary sentencing be used: During August 1958, in Notting Hill, London, there were over 5 nights of riots, when gangs of young white youths, set out to assault black people who lived in the area. “White Mobs of some 300-400 strong roamed the streets at one point breaking into homes and attacking West Indians they could find. One hundred people were charged with offences from grievous bodily harm to affray riot and possessing offensive weapons. Mobs had roamed the streets shouting “let us get the niggers”.
“One of the most famous confrontations took place in the Notting Dale area where a black student, Seymour Manning, was attacked by three men and fled towards Latimer Road tube station. He was nearly overtaken and turned into a greengrocer’s shop and slammed the door behind him”. A moment later the shopkeeper’s wife. . . appeared in the doorway, locked the door behind her, and turned to face the trio of toughs. She faced them down what quickly grew to an angry crowd until the Police Arrived”.
At the Old Bailey – a London Court – Judge Salmon handed down “exemplary sentences” of four years imprisonment each on nine white youths who had gone “nigger hunting.” The sentencing of the nine white youths arrested during the riots has passed into judicial lore as an example of “exemplary sentencing” – a harsh punishment to act as a deterrent to others.
Judge Salmon wanted to send a message – and he did – that that kind of lawless mob behaviour would not be tolerated. That “kind of mob behaviour” was never repeated. there have been incidents since, but not the mob orchestrated violence that took place in Notting Hill in 1958.
The Judiciary in Barbados needs to step up to the plate, and let law abiding citizens see, that their rights are not trampled upon through inaction. We have got to the point where “the poor black man” syndrome, of forgiveness for repeated unlawful transgressions will benefit no one but the lawless, in whose interest the Scales of Justice seem to lean, and the industrious hard working citizen’s interests are neglected.
We cannot excuse repeated common thieving, from each other and pretend it is not happening, and nothing can be done about it. . . because something can be done, and it is the duty of the Judiciary to do it.
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